Observations…Check, Portfolio….Check, Tenure…..?

I’m back from a long, long absence. The three months away from my blog have seemed like an eternity and I am sure that all readers have probably abandoned School Libraryland. I’m not worried, I’ll eventually get you back

I’m in my third year as a school librarian in upstate New York. I can honestly say that it has been a positive experience, having three years of being in trenches under my belt. To think of where I was when I started as a greenhorn to the point that I’m at now, I know I am exponentially better at my craft. But, I simply cannot type to my bosses and the Board of Education the two sentences that I just typed to you. There are formalities you see, and hurdles that must be hurdled. Oh yes, the hurdles…the many, many hurdles.

I’ve been observed in an instructional setting nine times: six by my Principal and another three by upper Administration. I’ve completed a three year in-house course in mentoring and hundreds of hours of professional development. Then there’s the published writings, professional work in the community, unwritten scholarship, and on and on.

For the last month I’ve been working on my professional portfolio and I’ve found it to be an intensive exercise in self-reflection and growth. By leveraging my training at Syracuse at the elementary ed. and library media specializations, I feel that I’ve put together a product that is not only a doorway to my beliefs and pedagogy but a product that is a combination of theory and emerging best practices.

This week I am submitting my portfolio and documentation to the Board of Education for their review and consideration for tenure. Have I distinguished myself from my peers as an educator and librarian? Have I demonstrated excellence in teaching and promise for future intellectual and professional development? I’ll let you know in a about two weeks.